Stalk-chopper.



Patented sept. 3o, |902. w. L. AnAMsoN.

STALK CHOPPER.

. (Appiction led July 8, 1902.) gno Model.) 2 sheets-sheet 2. L l 5.5" IIIIIIHIH B El? l5 I2 G5 I/ (7 9 J il, l H5 IC c E d cmu: Prfsws c.. amo-umm wJAsNINnroN, b, c.

lINrrnn STATES' PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM LEVI ADAMSON, OF WESTON, TEXAS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF .TO

i CORSON ADAMSON, OF WESTON, TEXAS.

STALK-CHOPPER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. '710.232, dated September 30. 1902 Application filed July 8, 1902. Serial No. 114,790. (No model.)

To all wtont t may concern.- bar f, which is guided in vertical ways O2 on Be it known that LWILLIAM LEVI ADAM- the forward end of frame O, and to the lower SON, of Weston, in the county of Collin and end of this barf is secured the transversely- State of Texashaveinvented certain new and disposed cutter or hoe blade f2, as shown. 55 5 useful Improvements in Stalk-Choppers; and The frame O is kept in position on the axle I hereby declare that the following is a full, by means of collars ot, secured to the axle by clear, and exact description thereof, referset-screws or in other suitable manner, and ence being had to the accompanying drawexterior to collars a are short sleeves G, which ings, which 'form part of this specification. are loose on the axle and support the rear 6o 1o This invention is an improved machine for ends of bars G, that extend forward beyond chopping weeds, vines, and stalks which enthe forward end of frame C and are united climber the ground, so as to kill them or cut and secured to the tongue G2. On the bars them into small pieces, so the ground can be G is mounted a housing H of any suitable more readily cultivated. construction adapted to cover the gearing 65 I5 The invention consists inthe several comand movable parts. On this housing is jourbinations of parts and constructions thereof naled a rock-shaft H', provided with a handhereinafter claimed, and the accompanying lever 7L, which has a locking-bolt 7L', adapted drawings illustrate a machine embodying the to engage a sector h2 beside the lever to lock various features of theinvention, which I will the shaft in any position to which it is ad- 7o 2o now describe. justed. To shaft H are rigidly connected In said drawings, Figure lrepresents a side` arms H2, which depend into the housing adelevation of the machine; Fig. 2, a plan View jacent to the forward end of frame C and are thereof with upper parts removed. Fig. 3 is connected to the forward end of said frame by a longitudinal section on line 3 3, Fig. 2; linksor chains H3, as shown, so that by rock- 75 z5 Fig. 4, a transverse section on line 4 4, Fig. ing shaft H the forward end of frame O, and 2. Fig. 5 is a detail. with it the chopping apparatus, can be raised A designates the main axle of the machine, or lowered at the will of the operator. The preferably cylindrical and supported on axle may be locked to the wheels B by any wheels B, which are rotatable on the axle. suitable .clutch mechanism controllable by 8o 3o Journaled centrally upon axleAand projectthe operator. As shown, the wheels have ing forwardly therefrom are the extensions c clutch-faces B'on the inner ends of their hubs, of a frame or casting O, carrying thecutting which are opposed to clutch-blocks b, loosely mechanism, whichis capable of swinging versplined on the axle adjacent to the wheels tically on the axle and has longitudinal bearand movable to or from the wheels, so as to 85 35 ings O for a shaft D, lying at right angles to lengage or disengage the clutch-faces thereof. the axle, but indirectly driven therefrom by The clutch-blocks b can be thrown into enmeans of a bevel-pinion d on the rear end of gagement with the clutch-faces B' by means shaft D, meshing with a larger bevel-gear E, of slidable rodsLjournaled in guides in sleeve loosely journaled on axle A, a small pinion G and having bifurcated ends engaging an- 9o 4o E' being fast to gear E and meshing with a nular grooves in blocks b, springs being inlarger gear E2 on a shaft E3, journaled in-the tex-posed between the bifurcated ends of the ends of said extensionsc of frame O, and a rods and the blocks G, so as to force the rods small pinion E4 on shaft E3 meshes with a and blocks b toward the wheels. The inner larger gear A', fast on axle A, as shown, so ends of rods I are cranked, as shown at I', 95 45 that by rotating the axle a greatly-accelerand are adapted to bear against cam-faces G3 ated motion is imparted to shaft D. The at the inner ends of sleeves G, so that when axle is driven by the wheels B, as hereinthe cranks I' are moved against the camsthe after described. Ou the forward end of shaft springs are compressed and blocks b moved D is a crank-disk D', the wrist-pin of which away from the wheels, thereby unlocking the roo 5o is connected by a pitman F to a wrist-pin f axle therefrom. The cranks I' are connected on the upper end of a vertically-reciprocating by rods t" to arms j on a rock-shaft J, jourp clutches.

naled transversely of the housing,in the front side thereof, or at other convenient point on the frame, said shaft J being provided with an operating-lever J2, having a hand-latch j', adapted to engage a segment ,7'2 adjacent thereto, so as to lock the shaft in position to either hold clutches engaged or disengaged. In front of the chopping-blade is a roller K, which is rotatably confined between thelower ends of bars K', that extend upwardly and forwardly and are pivoted to the tongue in advance of the housing. The bars K' are connected by a cross-piece K2 in advance of the rollers, and from piece K2 rises a guiderod K8, which plays through an aperture in the tongue G2 and serves to prevent lateral oscillation of the roller-frame. A spring 7c may be interposed between the bar K2 and the tongue to assist in holding the roller down. The roller may, however, be elevated when desired by means of a cord or chain 7a2, attached to bar K2and to one arm of a cranked lever L, pivoted on the housing H and provided on its longer arm with a latch or other suitable engaging device adapted to lock the lever to a segment L', fixed on said housing H. -Downwardly and outwardly bent iron ngers K5 may be attached to the side bars K' in advance of the roller, said fingers guiding tall stalks, particularly those growing near the ends of the roller, into the path thereof.

As many wellknown arrangements for locking rocking levers are known, I have merely conventionally illustrated them in the drawings and do not confine myself to any particular construction thereof; nor do I restrict myself to the particular construction of the housing or to the particular arrangement and location of the several levers and connections for adjusting the frame, roller, and

These in practice should be conveniently located near the drivers seat, and may be operated by foot or hand, as may be found most convenient. Y

Operation: During transport of the machine or where it is not desired to operate l the chopper the clutches b are thrown out of gear, so that the axle is not rotated with the wheels. The frame C, with the chopperfz, is also elevated and the roller H raised. Upon reaching the field and before starting across it or along a row the clutches are thrown in mesh, the roller lowered, and the chopperframe lowered to cause the blade to chop to the proper or desired depth. As the machine moves forward the blade is rapidly reciprocated. Preferably the gearing is such as will cause a reciprocation of the blade for every two inches of linear travel of the machine. The fingers K5, depending from bars K', direct the taller stalks or blades in front of the roller K, which bends them down in front of the chopper, so that the blade will sever them into short pieces, which will not interfere with subsequent plowing or cultivating operations.

Having thus described my invention, what I therefore claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent thereon, is-

l. The combination of the rotatable axle, the wheels, the frame swiveled on the axle, the shaft jonrnaled in said frame, gearing for rotating said shaft from the axle, a crank on the forward end of the shaft, a reciprocating bar, a pitman connecting said crank to said bar, and a cutter on the lower end of said bar, substantially as described.

2. The combination of the axle, the wheels thereon, clutches for locking said wheels to the axle, the frame swiveled on the axle, the forwardly-extending shaft journaled in said frame, gearing for rotating said shaft from the axle, a crank on the forward end of the shaft, a reciprocating bar, a pitman connecting said crank to said bar, and a choppingblade on the lower end of said bar, substantially as described. v

3. The combination of the rotatable axle, the wheels, the frame swiveled on the axle, the shaft journaled in said frame, gearing for rotating said shaft from the axle, a crank on the forward end of the shaft, a reciprocating bar, a pitman connecting said crank to said bar, and a cutter on the lower end of said bar; with means for raising and lowering the cutter end of the frame, and. means for engaging or disengaging the axle from the wheels, substantially as described.

et. The combination of the axle, the wheels thereon, clutches for locking said wheels to the axle, the frame swiveled on the axle, the forwardly-extending shaft journaled in said frame, gearing for rotating said shaft from the axle, a crank on the forward end of the shaft, a reciprocating bar, a pitman connecting said crank to said bar, and a choppingblade on the lower end of said bar; with means for raising and lowering the cutter end of the frame, and means for engaging or disengaging the axle-clutches from the wheels, substantially as described.

v5. The combination of the axle, its supporting-wheels, clutches for locking the wheels to the axle, a frame swiveled to the axle, a rotating shaft journaled in said frame and reciprocating chopping mechanism actuated by said shaft, a roller in front of the chopper, bars connecting said roller to the shaft, a spring for depressing the roller, and means for raising it, substantially as described.

6. The combination of the axle, its supporting-wheels, clutches for locking the wheels to the axle, a frame swiveled to the axle, a rotating shaft journaled in said frame and reciprocating chopping mechanism actuated by said shaft, a roller in front of the chopper, bars connecting said roller to the shaft, a spring for depressing the roller, and means for raising it; with means for throwing the clutches into or out of operation, and means for raising and lowering the cutting-frame, substantially as described.

7. In a chopping-machine, the combination IOO IIO

of the axle, the wheels thereon clutches for locking the wheels to the axle, a swinging frame hung on the axle, a shaft journaled in said frame, amplifying gearing between the shaft and axle, a 'vertically-reoiproeating bar guided in the front of the frame, a Chopper on the lower end of said bar, a crank on said shaft, anda pitxnan connection between said crank and bar;` with means for raising and lowering the frame, a roller hung in front of the chopping mechanism, means for raising and lowering the roller, and means for throwing the wheel-elutehes into and out of operation, all substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

WILLIAM LEVI ADAMSON.

Witnesses:

Lf A. HANKINS, J. D. HUDGINS. 

